Jackson's visit includes the press conference, about to begin, a 5 p.m. town hall meeting at the church and meetings with other city and community leaders.

Ajhani Owusu, who said she witnessed the Hall shooting, said she thought Jackson's visit today is an opportunity for Saginaw to find solutions to problems like a lack of racial diversity and sensitivity among its police officers.

"Great things are going to come out of this," Owusu said. "I think the Hall shooting was the peaking point for the city. It is not an isolated incident in Saginaw or across the country."

Northeast Neighborhood Association President Larry Campbell said he sees positive change coming from the national attention.

"I don't think it was something this community wanted or needed," Campbell said. "But sometimes you have to have outside influences and resources."

Tonight's 5 p.m. town hall meeting, he said, will give the community a chance to be part of the discussion about where Saginaw needs to go from here.

"We want to see what the community has to say and bring closure to what has transpired," Campbell said.